Process for obtaining pure metallic copper from a solution of a salt of copper.



'KJNITED s rA rns e irENT QFFIQBL PROCESS FOR OBTAINING PURE METALLIC COPPER'FROM A SQLUTION' A SALT COPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filedApril 21, 1908. Serial No. 428314.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUOIEN JUMAU, citizen of France, residing at Paris, in the said Republic, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes for Obtaining Pure Metallic Copper from a Solution of a Salt of Copper, (for which I have obtained a patent of addition in France, No. 6,825, bearing date October 27, 1906,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved proc ess for obtaining pure metallic copper from a solution of a salt of copper, and it consists in the steps and processes herein described and claimed.

In the usual wet method of extracting copper, from its ores, the latter, with or without previous roasting, are leached with a suitable solution for dissolving the copper, the latter being usually extracted 1n the form of a sul fate.

According to my improved process, the solution containing salts of copper ls-heated,

- under pressure, to a high temperature in the presence of a reducing gaseous agent, constituted by hydrogen, or by a gaseous rmX- ture having as abase the very powerful reducing agent above specified. Therefore, according'to my improved process, the reducing agent which I desire to claim is hydrogen. As, however, the'said gas (hydrogen) is, actually, produced by means of processes' which yield an industrial product having a high price, I apply industrially my process by substituting, for pure iydrogen, gaseous mixtures having said hydrogen as base. Such category of gases-includes hydrocarbons, water gas, illuminating gas, poor gas and the like.

In all cases, the neutral or acid solution of copper sulfate, is added with the gaseous mixture selected, heated in a closed vessel and under pressure; said solution thus treated yields metallic copper, sulfuric acid, and a product of decomposition of the mixture selectcd, said product varying obviously, according to the kind of the said mixture- In the case of pure hydrogen, the product of decomposition will be avoided, whereby the typical e nation of my improved process will be the fo owing:

sulfurous acid, suflicient to insure the complete reduction, in theformof metallic pure j' copper, ot the copper contained in the solution, is possible to employ said sulfurous and simultaneously with hydrogen, or in dustrial gaseous mixtures containing the same, in order to insure the aforesaid reduc-. tion.

I have described my referred process, but obviously, changes coufd be made Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. The herein described process for obtaining copper from a solution containing salts of copper," which consists in subjecting said solution to heat and pressure, in the presence of gaseous reducing agent containing hydrogen.

2. The herein described process for obtaining, copper from a solution containing salts of copper, which consists in subjecting said solution to heat and pressure, in the presence of a reducing agent containing hydrocarbon.

3. The herein described process for ob taining copper from a solution containing salts of copper, which consists in subjecting said solution to heat and pressure, in the presence of gaseous reducing agent containof illuminatlng gas.

In testimony whereof, l. have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two SlllJSCIlblDg witnesses.

LUCIL P-Y JUMAU.

\Vitncsses JULns FAYOLLET, EUGENE PIOHON. 

